Construction arrangement



April 25, 1967 N. v. FRYE 3,315,427

CONSTRUCT ION ARRANGEMENT Filed March 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 5 3o 5 INVENTOR. FIG. 8 M. FRYE April 25, 1967 N. v. FRYE 3,315,427

CONSTRUCTION ARRANGEMENT Filed March 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. N.V. FRYE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 12, 1965 R m E V N l United States Patent 3,315,427 CONSTRUCTION ARRANGEMENT Norman V. Frye, RR. 4, Davenport, Iowa 52804 Filed Mar. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 439,407 Claims. (Cl. 52-271) This invention relates to a construction system or arrangement and components thereof which, in a preferred embodiment, comprise a plurality of substantially identical block-like elements and a plurality of panel-like members, substantially identical to each other, the whole being usable in selective forms or patterns of assembly to build walls, fences, columns, barricades and a large variety of like structure.

The invention features and has for a principal object the provision of block-like elements having side, end and top and bottom grooves or slots for receiving edge portions of the panel members in interlocking fashion and in a variety of patterns in which the blocks and panels are alternated vertically and horizontally and may occupy any of several relationships to each other as respects alinement, relative angularity about vertical axes, etc.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel rod-like or equivalent fastener cooperative with mating apertures in the block elements to pivotally interconnect the latter while holding them against relative shifting displacement. In this regard, two further objects are to provide the fasteners with intermediate abutment portions to limit block penetration and to provide the block elements with a plurality of apertures for selective use in permitting and accommodating differences in structural relationships among the several available patterns. It is a further object to recess the block element surfaces in the area of each aperture so as to accommodate the fastener abutment or flange and thereby to improve the joint between vertically adjacent elements.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, as well as variations on the preferred arrangement disclosed, will become apparent as the detailed description progresses in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a block element;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIRGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of a panel member;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of a fastener;

FIGURE 6 is a plan, on a reduced scale, of one form of pattern in which the blocks and panels can be arranged;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation of the structure shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged section on the line 88 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an elevation of another pattern that may be constructed of the blocks and panels;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of the structure shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged section on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 shows a variation on the pattern of FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged portion of FIGURE 12 as indicated by the arrow on the encircled numeral 13 in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 but showing a smaller angle between two connected blocks;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged portion of FIGURE 6 as indicated by the arrow on the encircled numeral 15 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged framgentary view of portions of two interconected blocks and a related panel where the pattern includes a basic angle of 60;

FIGURE 17 is a reduced-scale plan view showing a triangular pattern embodying relationships as shown in FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view of portions of two interconnected blocks and a related panel where the pattern includes a basic angle of 120; and

FIGURE 19 is a reduced-scale plan view showing a hexagonal pattern embodying relationships as shown in FIGURE 18.

The numeral 20 designates an elongated block-like element of regular parallelopiped form, herein referred to primarily as a block. This element may be made of any suitable material; e.g., concrete, plastic, wood etc.; it may be molded, extruded or otherwise formed; and it may be of any selected size and relative proportions, depending upon the uses to which it is intended to be put, etc. A plurality of substantially identical blocks will be employed in constructing the selected pattern or patterns and the number required will of course depend upon the shape, size, extent, etc. of the pattern. This holds true also of the panel-like members (hereinafter panel), one of which is shown by itself at 22 in FIG- URE 4, as well as of the fasteners, one of which appears by itself at 24 in FIGURE 5.

The panels 22 may be preferably of sheet-like material, such as glass,-any of the well-known plastics, fiberboards, etc., and may be rigid, semi-rigid, flexible, perforated, solid and/or opaque, transparent, transluscent etc.

Each fastener 24 is preferably of metal and of rod-like construction lblll'. having a central flange or abutment portion 26 and oppositely extending coaxial spikes 28. The later may be ringed, as at 30, for gripping the blocks, as will be explained below.

The block is peripherally grooved or slotted, having a plurality of top and bottom grooves 32 and 34 and opposite end grooves 36.and 38; the block is provided with further grooves 40 and 42 at opposite sides near one end and 44 and 46 at opposite sides near its other end. The groves are here provided, by way of example, in sets of three. Broadly, one groove of each kind may be used if the number of patterns is to be limited; and the end or side grooves could be omitted where simple patterns are desired. The number of grooves could of course be increased where circumstances require it. Considering the block as primarily useful with its length horizontal (although this is not a limitation), the top and bottom grooves are horizontal and the end and side grooves are vertical.

Each block is further provided at each end with vertical aperture means, at one end comprising a set of three through holes or apertures 48 and at its other end comprising a set of three similar holes 50. These holes could be formed less than all the way through from the top and bottom of the block, but through holes facilitate manufacture.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show the start of a pattern based on' two parallel blocks 20 resting on the ground, for example, and spaced apart, as in a first tier, two additional blocks in spaced apart parallelism in a second tier and at to the lower blocks; and a pair of panels 22. As seenin FIGURES 8 and 15, the fasteners'24 occupy the innermost vertically alined apertures 48, 50. The use of the innermost apertures throughout this pattern fixes the distances between the two blocks in a tier and the interior of the pattern as seen from above is square. In erecting the structure, the lower tier blocks are first laid down and the fasteners driven into the selected innermost holes 48 and 50 respectively adjacent to opposite ends of the blocks.

The spike rings 30 securely grip the interior walls of the holes to hold the fasteners in place. Each block has recesses 52 in its top and bottom in the areas of the holes for accommodating the thickness of the fastener flanges 26. The other ends or spikes 28 of the fasteners project upwardly to receive the innermost holes 48 and 50 of the next two blocks, which are oriented 90 to the lower blocks, placed on the projecting spikes and pressed or driven into place. As will be clear, each spike 28 is at least a little less than one-half the length of a hole, which prevents one spike from forcing out the one above or below it. The flanges of course prevent the accidental penetration of a spike too far.

The sides of the square thus formed are equal in length to the longer dimension of the panel 22. The central top groove of each lower block registers at opposite ends with the innermost side grooves 40 and 42 of the second tier blocks, and a panel is inserted at each of two opposite sides of the square, the upright edges of the panel fitting in or being received by the side grooves 40 and 42 and the top groove 32. A variation is available here in that the outermost top groove is in register with the central side grooves 40 and 42, and the panel could be placed in a second position. It is shown as it is in FIGURES 6 and 15 because it is located centrally between the planes of the side walls of its block.

In the embodiment shown, the side grooves are spaced apart on the order of the top, bottom and end grooves, and the holes are alined lengthwise in the central top groove and are laterally alined respectively with the side grooves. This can be determined empirically and can be varied for blocks and panels of proportions different from those shown. To accommodate variations in manufacture, the grooves may be made wider than the panel thickness, and this facilitates assembly, especially where angles other than 90 and 180 are used, as will be explained below. Any undesirable looseness may be easily compensated for by the use of mastic, caulking, etc., which would be employed in any event where weather-tight joints are needed.

The pattern shown in FIGURE 6 can of course be continued upwardly by alternating cross blocks, again using fasteners in the designated holes and inserting panels as the structure rises, as when erecting a column, post, etc. Each time a pair of blocks and fasteners are added, the projecting portions of the latter serve as guides for the next pair of blocks and so on. It is clear of course that adding blocking horizontally to two opposite sides of the square will create a rectangular structure. If desired, the structure may be capped in any suitable manner, not material here. It will be clear of course that the upper edge of each panel below the next uppermost block that is added will be received in the central bottom groove 34 of that block.

FIGURES 9 and 10 (and the enlargement in FIGURE 11) show what may be regarded as an in-line wall or fence pattern. In this case, as in that of FIGURE 6, and others to be described, the arrangement of blocks and panels is, broadly, one in which lower blocks are separated to leave uniform spaces therebetween, each block in the next upward set bridges the two blocks below it and overlies corresponding spaces and so on, and panels occupy the spaces. In the FIGURES 9-l1 pattern, endmost holes 48 and 50 are used to receive the fasteners 24 and centrally located end and top and bottom grooves receive the panels 22. Note, however, that there are three panel positions available here because, the blocks being in alinement, all sets of slots likewiselineup. The central location is preferred for reasons ofsyrnmetry. Here again,,the fasteners serve the dual purposeof securing the blocks already assembled and ,of locating the blocks being added. Also, caulking, mastic etc. may be added as a seal between the panel edges and the grooves.

.It is obvious of course that the fence or panel of FIG- URES 911 may have a corner based on FIGURE and that the pattern may be continued, closed (as a square,

etc.), left open, formed as a zig-zag and repeated in various ways on the basis of what has been and will be said here.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a pattern similar to FIGURE 9 but with a curved appearance in plan because the blocks are pivoted relatively about the axes of the fasteners. This changes the registry of the end and top grooves and consequently the locations of the panels, as best seen in FIGURE 13, the central end grooves now lining up with a non-central top groove (which will also be the case with a bottom grooves of blocks in the next higher tier). It will thus be seen that the structure is versatile because pivotability of the blocks about the fasteners is accommodated by the provision of the additional grooves.

This will be further understood from FIGURE 14, which shows that even more of a curve may be obtained in the wall, fence, etc. Here, the groove registry is between the same top groove as in FIGURE 13 and a different end groove. The fasteners are still employed in the outermost of the holes 48 and 50.

Looking at all of FIGURES 13-15, it will be readily seen that any blocks added above those shown will line up vertically with the horizontally parallel blocks next below and that the pattern repeats itself as the structure is erected. From this, alinement of grooves and thus location of panels can be readily visualized. Using FIG- URE 13 as an example, it can be seen that a panel received at its lower edge in the outermost groove 32a will have its left hand vertical edge received in the central slot 38 of the next block added directly above the block now shown to the left of the fastener 24, and the top edge of such panel will be received in the outermost groove 34 of the block next above that to the right of the fastener, and

so on.

FIGURE 16 shows, fragmentarily, one corner or apex of an equilateral triangle figure constructed, for example, according to FIGURE 17 (or any other pattern where a 60 angle occurs). This pattern illustrates the use of the side grooves in cooperation with the horizontal top and bottom grooves in a relationship beyond that of the angle of FIGURES 6, 7 and 15. At each such corner, the outermost horizontal groove 32 (34) lines up with the en drnost side slot 40 and the fastener again occupies the outermost paired holes 4850. Where each side of such triangular figure (FIGURE 17) is two blocks long, the intermediate junction of blocks between apices is effected by using the fastener 24 in the central paired holes 48-50. As in the cases of FIGURES l3l5, the relationship among additionally superposed blocks and panels on the foundation of FIGURE 17 may be readily visualized. It is further clear, of course, that the sides. of the triangle may be made as long as desired by adding more pairs of blocks per side and the corners or apices will obviously remain the same.

In using the angle of FIGURE 18 to form a hexagonal structure as in FIGURE 19, each fastener is placed in the innermost paired holes 48-50, and the panels are received in the innermost horizontal top (or bottom) grooves and the innermost side grooves. As :before, vertical repetition of the pattern will be readily understood.

As previously stated, the patterns illustrated, although but representative of the many that are available, may \be exploited in all sort of structures,. regardless of size, purpose, types of materials used, etc.; and, in addition, these atterns will suggest other variations that may be developed on the basis of alterations in or additions to what has been shown, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Construction of the class described, comprising a plurality of substantially identical block-like elements of regular panallelopip'ed form including a first set disposed in a first tier in which the elements are uniformly sep arated horizontally from each other to leave between neighboring elements substantially equal spaces of less horizontal dimension than that of an element, a second set of similar elements arranged in a second tier atop the first tier, said second tier elements bridging the spaces between the first tier elements and themselves having similar spaces therebetween, and a plurality of rectangular panel-like members disposed in and shaped to conform to the spaces between the first and second tier elements, each element having a plurality of peripheral grooves running lengthwise thereof and at each end, and a plurality of upright matching grooves at each of its sides and adjacent to each of its ends for selectively receiving the respective edges of said members in any of a plurality of conditions.

2. Construction of the class described, comprising a plurality of substantially identical block-like elements of regular parallelepiped form including a first set disposed in a first tier in which the elements are uniformly separated horizontally from each other to leave between neighboring elements substantially equal spaces of less horizontal dimension than that of an element, a second set of similar elements arranged in a second tier atop the first tier, said second tier elements bridging the spaces between the first tier elements and themselves having similar spaces therebetween, each of said elements having a vertical aperture therein adjacent to each end thereof and the apertures in each second tier almost being vertically alined respectively with the apertures in the first tier elements that it bridges, a plurality of rod-like fasteners, one received in each pair of vertically alined apertures, and a plurality of rectangular panel-like members disposed in and shaped to conform to the spaces between the first and second tier elements, each element having a plurality of pheripheral grooves running lengthwise thereof and at each end, and a plurality of upright matching .grooves at each of its sides and adjacent to each of its ends for selectively receiving the respective edges of said members in any of a plurality of conditions.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, in which: each element has additional vertical apertures therein similar to and closely spaced from the respective first-named apertures and selectively adapted to receive the respective aforesaid fasteners to accommodate differences in positioning of the elements.

4. The invention defined in claim 2, in which: each fastener has an abutment portion projecting therefrom transversely to its length and generally midway between its ends for engaging the top of an element so as to limit its downward penetration of an aperture.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which: each element has a recess in each horizontal surface in the area of an aperture for accommodating said abutment portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,397 12/1944 Dickman 52233 X 2,559,198 7/1951 Ogden 52-585 X 2,963,828 12/1960 Belliveau 52 -585 X 3,006,038 10/1961 Sullivan 52-233 X 3,195,266 7/1965 On-ania n 52585 X FOREIGN PATENTS 679,683 2/1964 Canada. 523,178 8/1921 France. 880,934 6/ 1953 Germany.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL BLOCK LIKE ELEMENTS OF REGULAR PARALLELOPIPED FORM INCLUDING A FIRST SET DISPOSED IN A FIRST TIER IN WHICH THE ELEMENTS ARE UNIFORMLY SEPARATED HORIZONTALLY FROM EACH OTHER TO LEAVE BETWEEN NEIGHBORING ELEMENTS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL SPACES OF LESS HORIZONTAL DIMENSION THAN THAT OF AN ELEMENT, A SECOND SET OF SIMILAR ELEMENTS ARRANGED IN A SECOND TIER ATOP THE FIRST TIER, SAID SECOND TIER ELEMENTS BRIDGING THE SPACES BETWEEN THE FIRST TIER ELEMENTS AND THEMSELVES HAVING SIMILAR SPACES THEREBETWEEN, AND A PLURALITY OF RECTANGULAR 